Cartoon Network and Ratings

L.A. BizJournal relates:

According to a recent report from Todd Juenger, an analyst with Sanford Bernstein, after Turner signed over IPs from Cartoon Network and Adult Swim to Netflix, viewership of the broadcast channels has dropped noticeably. In Netflix households, Cartoon Network's ratings are down 10 percent and Adult Swim ratings are down 18 percent since partnering with Netflix in January. Turner series available on Netflix include "Dexter's Laboratory," "Adventure Time," "Powerpuff Girls," and "Cow & Chicken."

“If there was anybody out there who still didn’t believe that SVOD hurts kids ratings, this should put a final end to that debate,” Juenger wrote. ...

Cartoon Network disagrees, saying the drop is minimal. And hey. CN's press release says things are fine:

... During the fourth week of September 2013, Cartoon Network ranked as television’s #1 network for Early Prime (7-9 p.m.) delivery of boys 2-11, 6-11 & 9-14.

Monday’s episode premiere of "Regular Show" (7:30 p.m.) ranked as the #1 telecast of the week among boys 6-11 & 9-14, #1 of the day with all targeted boys, and #1 in its time period with all targeted kids. The episode premiere of our newest animated series, "Uncle Grandpa" (8 p.m.) ranked #1 in its time period with all targeted kids and boy demos. The episode premiere of "Adventure Time" (7 p.m.) ranked #1 in its time period with kids 9-14 and all boys demos. Furthermore, these premiere episodes increased by double digits among targeted kids and boys vs. the same time period last year.

Cartoon Network was the #1 destination for all targeted boys on Tuesday Night (7-9 p.m.). The episode premiere of Total Drama All-Stars (7 p.m.) ranked as the #1 telecast of the day with boys 6-11 & 9-14, and #1 in its time period with kids 6-11, 9-14 & all targeted boy demos. Additionally, "The Amazing World of Gumball" (7:30 p.m.) ranked #1 in its time period with these same demos.

Wednesday’s episode premiere of "Teen Titans GO!" (7:30 p.m.) ranked as the #1 telecast of the day with boys 6-11 & 9-14, while increasing by double-digit growth with all targeted kids and boy demos. ...

So I guess we see how this unwinds, whether the money Tim-Warner/CN gets from Netflix offsets any ratings decline. Tod J. thinks it does, but one of the parties has to be wrong.